Sustain and Serve NJ, what many consider the best business funding program that state has established, awarded 29 grants totally $20 million in Phase 2 of funding Tuesday.
The funding, distributed by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, will go to nonprofits, which will use the money to purchase meals for those in need from local restaurants, which are in need of an economic boost.
The funding is expected to support the purchase of 2 million meals from nearly 300 New Jersey restaurants in more than 120 municipalities statewide.
It’s the ultimate win-win. And Tuesday, it was an even bigger win — as an additional $11 million was added to Phase 2. (More than $14 million in grants were distributed in Phase 1, when 1.5 million meals were purchased from more than 350 restaurants.)
Gov. Phil Murphy said the program’s impact has been great.
“The overwhelming and heartfelt response from organizations stepping up to support their local restaurants and their neighbors truly embodies the Jersey spirit,” he said. “Restaurants are an essential part of our economy, and their success is essential to our state’s recovery from the pandemic.
“Having so many entities leverage Sustain and Serve NJ funds to not only inject cash into restaurants, but also partner with those restaurants to feed members of their community, is an absolute grand slam.”
Each awardee will receive a grant of between $100,000 and $2 million to fund these purchases. Five organizations received the maximum amount (complete list is at bottom).
The entities will then distribute the meals at no cost to the recipients.
Dana Lancellotti, CEO of the New Jersey Restaurant & Hospitality Association, said the program has been a huge help.
“The structure of Sustain and Serve NJ is smart and proactive in terms of the dual benefits it provides,” she said. “In addition to helping restaurants keep their lights on and their workers employed, the program provides an opportunity for them to make a positive difference for their communities.”
Here’s a look at the nonprofits that were awarded grants. They are listed under the counties they will serve. Those who will serve multiple counties will appear in multiple spots. The organization headquarters will be in parentheses:
- Soup Kitchen 411: FeedNJ (Hightstown): $2 million
Atlantic
- AtlantiCare Foundation (Egg Harbor): $100,000
Bergen
- HealthBarn Foundation (Ridgewood): $2 million
- Holy Name Medical Center Foundation (Teaneck): $2 million
- Our Community Dinner Table (South Hackensack): $245,000
- Tri-Arc Community Development (Hackensack)
- Cliffside Park Hall of Fame Foundation (Cliffside Park): $500,000
- Foundation for University Hospital (Newark): $1 million
Cape May
- New Jersey Farmers Cooperative (Cape May): $2 million
Essex
- Foundation for University Hospital (Newark) $1 million
- Toni’s Kitchen (Montclair): $900,000
- Coalition for Food and Health Equity (Jersey City): $750,000
- FLAG for Cranford (Cranford): $150,000
- FrontLine Appreciation Group of Millburn/Short Hills (Short Hills): $200,000
- Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy (Livingston): $200,000
- Morristown Rotary Club (Morristown): $200,000
- Newark Working Kitchens (Newark): $2 million
Hudson
- Coalition for Food and Health Equity (Jersey City): $750,000
Mercer
- Meals on Wheels of Mercer County (Ewing): $100,100
- Rescue Mission of Trenton (Trenton): $200,000
- Share My Meals Inc. (Princeton): $175,000
- TASK Inc. (Trenton): $720,000
Middlesex
- Fulfill: FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties (Neptune): $599,998
Monmouth
- A Need We Feed (Toms River): $260,000
- Asbury Park Dinner Table (Asbury Park): $104,000
- Chef Lou’s Army (Pine Beach): $700,000
- Fulfill: FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties (Neptune): $599,998
Morris
- Morristown Rotary Club (Morristown): $200,000
- Power Changes Lives (Morris Plains): $900,000
Ocean
- Chef Lou’s Army (Pine Beach): $700,000
- Congregation Bnos Devorah (Lakewood): $200,000
- A Need We Feed (Toms River): $260,000
- Fulfill: FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties (Neptune): $599,998
Passaic
- Holy Name Medical Center Foundation (Teaneck): $2 million
Salem
- Mid-Atlantic States Career and Education Center (Pennsville): $200,000
Somerset
- Share My Meals, Inc. (Princeton): $175,000
Union
- FLAG for Cranford (Cranford): $150,000
- Elizabeth Education Association (Elizabeth): $750,000
- Power Changes Lives (Morris Plains): $900,000
- The Summit Foundation (Summit): $237,120
